Ending Impressions

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llazy77

Warrior of Light
May 27, 2014
1,149
550
29
#1
In Depth Spoilers on the Ending Below

You fight Ifrit, then Ardyn. It seems Ardyns boss fight is pretty short. Then after the credits you see a cg cutscene of Noctis and Luna about to be married. I think this ending couldve been alot better first of all Ardyn could have had a third form where he turned into a monster or something and we fought in space, also the fight was a QTE fest, Final Fantasy final bosses are always epic like this one this one felt incredibly underwhelming in retrospect. And also what happened to the other bros, many questions were left unanswered. The CG cutscene at the end was also underwhelming and it also happens at the end of the credits... meaning some people wont even watch it. Overall was incredibly disappointed by this ending, Also Bahumuts design was underwhelming as well expected a big dragon like previously but its just a humanoid form of a women.
My only hope is that there is multiple endings.

What were your thoughts?
 
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ChrisB

Clan Centurio Member
Jul 25, 2014
132
17
39
#7
I've seen videos up on YouTube of the final boss and videos of the summons fighting each other, didn't watch them as didn't want to ruin the game for myself,
 

LeonBlade

Administrator
Administrator
Moderator
Site Staff
Oct 25, 2013
2,026
1,864
32
Blossvale, New York
#8
How the ending plays out I actually really enjoy. Bahamut's design is by far the most interesting one in FF history and the summoning itself is incredible. Also, Bahamut isn't modeled after a woman... We also knew that one of the Astrals was going to take on a different appearance, many were already speculating it was Bahamut. This shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone. Fighting Ifrit felt more like a proper boss fight from the other encounters. Fighting Ardyn reminded me of fighting a final boss in a KH game where it's mostly cinematic and not hard at all.

You have to remember this is an action game, not turn based. Comparing past FF game's final bosses isn't exactly fair considering they're different types of games. That being said, the fight with Ardyn was done well enough I think, although not exactly a challenge.

As for the final cutscenes for the game, I couldn't stop crying through all of them and my eyes were completely bloodshot when I was done. For all my problems with the game that I have, the ending is done really well. The problems I have with it stem from my problems with the story in how it's presented, but that's only in terms of context not in execution.

Overall my impressions of the ending are good. If only I wasn't spoiled ahead of time so I could enjoy it better...
 

Ikkin

Warrior of Light
Oct 30, 2016
1,099
1,705
#9
I'm honestly kind of baffled by the first post here. o_0 There are so many major details skipped that it seems to be trying to make the game sound as bad as possible.

Anyway, here's my impressions:

The ending practically broke me, for reasons almost entirely absent from the first post. It's a meditation on the human cost of self-sacrifice in an interactive form; it demands that you reflect on Noct's life and consider what it means to you before compelling him forward to his death. And, while the fight itself might not have been super challenging, the second half forces you to pay for the damage you do to Ardyn with Noct's life-force, and the final QTE makes you complicit in Noct's sacrifice.

Then there's the presentation, which is just brutal -- Noct faces his end with courage, but it's still hard to watch him bear a blow from each of the Lucii before finally being pierced by his own father (who knew the cost all along, after all) and driving in the final sword himself. Seeing those swords force their way out of him for the final blow just makes it impossible to ignore the agony he's forced to (you've forced him to) bear.

And, during the credits, you're reminded of a much subtler cost when Noct has to admit to his friends that he's going to die and can barely get the words out. He might have been strong in the moment, but saying goodbye is more painful than he can even express.

"This is the cost of the world's salvation," the game seems to say. It's a passion play in video game form. And it's kind of amazing.

(For the record, I think it's completely viable to see the last scene with Noct and Luna on the throne as them serving as King and Queen of a new Eos, which would explain just about everything one needs to know about the future.)
 

ChingleeTribal

SOLDIER, First Class
Mar 27, 2016
955
815
#10
I loved the ending. the entire finale was so heartbreaking.
I'm just a sucker for tragic endings xD
Noctis saying he loved Luna and the guys and his dad as he places his palm on the throne. As he sits, he calls the old kings and gets stabbed up while the 'spirit' of his father watches on. Noctis' hand quivering as he tried to accept the power, tries to maintain composure and keep his hands on Regis' sword. All the while Song of Stars plays in the background. This destroyed my heart and honestly was difficult to watch.

And the scene at the last camp fire? I get all choked up just thinking about it. When Noct says "why's this so hard to say?" and the guys well up in tears my heart felt heavy and my throat dry. It felt like I knew Noctis for so long and now I have to accept he will be no more.
 

DrBretto

Warrior of Light
Mar 18, 2016
1,605
1,436
41
#11
In Depth Spoilers on the Ending Below

You fight Ifrit, then Ardyn. It seems Ardyns boss fight is pretty short. Then after the credits you see a cg cutscene of Noctis and Luna about to be married. I think this ending couldve been alot better first of all Ardyn could have had a third form where he turned into a monster or something and we fought in space, also the fight was a QTE fest, Final Fantasy final bosses are always epic like this one this one felt incredibly underwhelming in retrospect. And also what happened to the other bros, many questions were left unanswered. The CG cutscene at the end was also underwhelming and it also happens at the end of the credits... meaning some people wont even watch it. Overall was incredibly disappointed by this ending, Also Bahumuts design was underwhelming as well expected a big dragon like previously but its just a humanoid form of a women.
My only hope is that there is multiple endings.

What were your thoughts?
Having actually seen the ending, this post is absolutely hilarious.

Ilazy, this is why you should have listened to everyone and not read everyone else's impressions on everything. All you get is this watered down distortion of what actually happened, and all you did was ruin shit for yourself. It's a damn shame.

The ending was pretty awesome. Hit all the notes, and was really moving.
Spoilered because I'm going to get into detail with it, just in case someone is reading but hasn't gotten there yet:

The Ifrit battle is actually my favorite so far in the game. It's humanoid, which for some reason always feels better to fight in this game. Maybe it's because it's easier to see when the attacks are coming so it's easier to dodge and whatnot. But it also has a lot of aerial combat as well. I'm not sure I touched the ground the whole fight. I'd warp strike in, dance around him in the air, then warp back to the warp points to replenish MP. It was really fun and really satisfying.

Second highlight was Ardyn hanging the corpses in the throne room. I couldn't see who they all were at first, but luckily, on that final fight with Ardyn, at one point I didn't realize I was downed and I thought the game was just bugged, so I forgot to use a phoenix down and had to repeat it. When I went back, I made sure to take a good look before they disappeared. It was Iedolas, Regis, Luna and Nyx. I have no idea why Iedolas was there at all, and Noctis didn't even know Nyx, but *I*, the player, knew who they were so good enough. It was some sadistic shit to hang em out there like that and really helped solidify the hate for Ardyn. I thought that was well done.

Third highlight was the bonus camp scene. That was really emotional and really well done without being remotely sappy. I was really, really happy with that scene.

And the music. OMG. The track right out of the Dawn trailer, and I swear that song will make me cry if you played it over a used car commercial. It's a beautiful song.

But the big highlight for me, and this is just my interpretation of it, was that the Bahamut summon wasn't the last bonus summon. You essentially witness the creation of the Knights of the Round! All so they could go into the afterlife and continue beating the ever-loving shit out of Ardyn, who ended up being one of my favorite villains.

The game is a beautiful mess, and I love it. I'm happy to add it to the family and I can't wait to finish up all the end game stuff, then start a new game on hard when the patch comes out. It's uneven and occasionally baffling, but it ends on a high note and it's enough to solidify the game as a huge hit for me.
 

ChingleeTribal

SOLDIER, First Class
Mar 27, 2016
955
815
#13
I wonder if Ardyn suffered the same thing as Luna where his flesh started deteriorating after absorbing the scourge?

But then again he gained immortality so maybe not? Or did he lose his humanly flesh through deterioration and gain an immortal shell of a body?

Either way, Ardyn is the true hero betrayed by the Gods and so I have a lot of respect for the character.

Hmmm, now this got me thinking about the slap Ardyn gave Luna. I think he sees himself back in his 'Healer of the people days' in her and that reminds him of how he was played by the God's and how foolish he was to trust them.

Luna tried to 'heal' Ardyn and feeds him 'bullshit' about people in darkness will be healed by the light or whatever and this angers him: being touched by thread powers he once had gifted by the God's only to be betrayed after using this gift to benefit humanity.
 
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ChingleeTribal

SOLDIER, First Class
Mar 27, 2016
955
815
#15
Noctis was pretty much like a regular guy. A nice guy.

Ardyn was a sly motherfucker throughout. He made his presence known but you knew he was up to no good. Even still, as with most characters in the game, he still needed more screen time.

Fantastic character throughout the entirety of the game.
 
Likes: Storm

Storm

Warrior of Light
Oct 26, 2013
3,351
6,012
32
Switzerland
#16
from the "The Art of Final Fantasy XV" art book



it would be great if they included flashback scenes about him.

overall FFXVs story is great, it's a shame is not presented well 80% of the time and many events are only told.
 
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Lulcielid

Warrior of Light
Oct 9, 2014
3,826
2,826
28
Argentina
#17
from the "The Art of Final Fantasy XV" art book
it would be great if they included flashback scenes about him.

overall FFXVs story is great, it's a shame is not presented well 80% of the time and many events are only told.
The messiah imagenarie is strong in this art.
 
Likes: Storm

SonOfEtro

Warrior of Light
May 2, 2016
1,036
1,192
#18
I first saw the ending, and wasn't sure what to make of it. Then the emotional part hit me fully, and I was on the point of tears by the time that final post-credits scene rolled round. I still think Noctis' companions are still alive in the world he saved, but the fact that Noctis and Luna both had to die hit me hard, particularly when I realised it was all for some higher non-human cause that none of them could hope to fully understand. For the final scene in the afterlife, it was the masterful use of the FF Main Theme that did it, and seeing Noctis and Luna come together and be at peace with those rising and gushing piano-and-orchestra finale. Then the logo, with the bells chiming overhead. More than anything, that made my heart throb and made me slump slightly in my chair. I suddenly realised that I liked these characters more than I ever expected to, and I wanted to change their fate somehow. It's the kind of feeling I got with the XIII games, particularly XIII-2 where I was praying for some alternative route that would negate the tragedy there.

Either way, Ardyn is the true hero betrayed by the Gods and so I have a lot of respect for the character.

Hmmm, now this got me thinking about the slap Ardyn gave Luna. I think he sees himself back in his 'Healer of the people days' in her and that reminds him of how he was played by the God's and how foolish he was to trust them.

Luna tried to 'heal' Ardyn and feeds him 'bullshit' about people in darkness will be healed by the light or whatever and this angers him: being touched by thread powers he once had gifted by the God's only to be betrayed after using this gift to benefit humanity.
Ardyn was the best character out of all the supporting cast for me. For me, he completely knocks nearly all other FF villains out of the court. He's my favorite antagonist from FF since Vayne and Caius Ballad, and easily my favorite overall for the entire series. Heck, he's one of the best antagonists in recent gaming.
 
Likes: Storm

Storm

Warrior of Light
Oct 26, 2013
3,351
6,012
32
Switzerland
#19
ardyn, caius and sephiroth are my favorite villains, followed by kefka.

kefka would be higher if he had a decent motivation, but he's personality more than makes up for it.

vayne is the opposite he had an interesting and mature motivation but he's character was bland imo.